The Best Free PaintTool SAI AlternativesTop Digital Painting Tools & Image Editors like PaintTool SAI

Alternatives list

1. 

   

   Krita

    1491 likes

   Free, open-source painting software designed by artists for artists. Offers customizable UI, 9 brush engines, color management, tablet support, non-destructive editing, and privacy features. Portable and available on major platforms, supporting seamless texture creation.

   154 Krita alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Open Source

   Application type

   • Digital Painting

   Origin

   • Netherlands
   • EU

   Platforms

   • Mac
   • Windows
   • Linux
   • Android Tablet
   • KDE Plasma
   • Epic Games Store
   • PortableApps.com
   • F-Droid
   • Steam
   • AppImage

   • Netherlands
   • EU

   

   

   

   +6

   

   More about Krita  

   

   Good alternative?Is Krita a good alternative to PaintTool SAI?

    

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   13comments

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   Krita vs PaintTool SAI Comments

   Top Positive Comment by Guest · May 4, 2017

   Very advanced program that is absolutely free, only downside is that it's not as lightweight as SAI

   Top Negative Comment by Guest · Dec 31, 2025

   Both Krita's brush system and UI are very different from SAI, notably the color blending system which make it impossible to recreate the watercolor effect in SAI, it is more similar to Autodesk Sketchbook.

   Positive comment by Guest · Jan 13, 2021

   It has many capabilities, and I've seen people's work using this. It's amazing to work in and is good in animation features.

   3 of 13 comments

   

   

   • Krita is Free and Open SourcePaintTool SAI is Paid and Proprietary
   • Krita is Lightweight and Privacy focusedPaintTool SAI is not according to our users
2. 

   

   MediBang Paint

    120 likes

   MediBang Paint is a lightweight software for illustration and making comic books on Windows and Mac OS.

   83 MediBang Paint alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Freemium
   • Proprietary

   Application typeApplication types

   • Digital Painting
   • Image Editor

   Origin

   • Japan

   Platforms

   • Mac
   • Windows
   • Android
   • iPhone
   • Android Tablet
   • iPad
   • Steam

   • Japan

   

   

   

   +4

   

   More about MediBang Paint  

   

   Good alternative?Is MediBang Paint a good alternative to PaintTool SAI?

    

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   14comments

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   MediBang Paint vs PaintTool SAI Comments

   Top Positive Comment by Guest · Jan 23, 2019

   Its very convenient and it works on every device

   Top Negative Comment by Guest · May 9, 2019

   the app is filled with a bunch of tools and not enough explaniton

   Positive comment by Guest · Jul 1, 2020

   I love the dark UI and how organized it is

   3 of 14 comments

   

   

   • MediBang Paint is Freemium and ProprietaryPaintTool SAI is Paid and Proprietary
   • MediBang Paint is LightweightPaintTool SAI is not according to our users
4. 

   

   FireAlpaca

    90 likes

   FireAlpaca is the image editor that can be used readily and easily. We made it possible to provide the completely free download, in order for our products to be experienced by more users from all over the world. It is available for both Mac and Windows users!

   130 FireAlpaca alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Proprietary

   Application typeApplication types

   • Digital Painting
   • Image Editor

   Platforms

   • Mac
   • Windows
   • Linux

   

   

   More about FireAlpaca  

   

   Good alternative?Is FireAlpaca a good alternative to PaintTool SAI?

    

   |

   9comments

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   FireAlpaca vs PaintTool SAI Comments

   Top Positive Comment by Guest · Dec 15, 2017

   Firealpaca is much easier to use! It's simpler to find your way around and it's completely free for mac and windows! It's also great because it has regular updates so you know it's always gonna get better. You can animate on it and use masks, references and palettes.

   Positive comment by Guest · Dec 31, 2025

   Overall very similar brush/color sampling system, especially with color blending.

   Positive comment by Guest · Jan 14, 2021

   FireAlpaca is good. Can be easier to draw with pentablet

   3 of 9 comments

   

   

   • FireAlpaca is Free and ProprietaryPaintTool SAI is Paid and Proprietary
5. Ad

   

   

   Adobe Fresco

   Unlock creativity with a massive brush collection and real-time effects. Blend oils, paint with vibrant watercolors, and enjoy vector and raster brushes on stylus-ready devices. Ideal for artists of all levels.

   https://www.adobe.com

   Learn More
6. 

   

   ibis Paint X

    42 likes

   ibis Paint is an easy yet powerful drawing app made with tools for sketching manga right at your fingertips.

   60 ibis Paint X alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Freemium
   • Proprietary

   Application typeApplication types

   • Digital Painting
   • Image Editor

   Origin

   • Japan

   Platforms

   • Windows
   • Android
   • iPhone
   • Android Tablet
   • HUAWEI AppGallery
   • iPad

   • Japan

   

   

   

   More about ibis Paint X  

   

   Good alternative?Is ibis Paint X a good alternative to PaintTool SAI?

    

   |

   11comments

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   ibis Paint X vs PaintTool SAI Comments

   Top Positive Comment by Guest · Jun 12, 2017

   The app is very functional :) So many brushes and options. Maybe at the beginning everything's a bit complicated, but if get used to it it's very easy and effective. Also there's a chance of learning so many methods and styles of drawing by the new features and even from other artists. I definitley recommend this aplication :3

   Positive comment by Guest · Dec 6, 2020

   It's like medibang, but you don't have good stabilization and stuff like that. it's a simular.

   Positive comment by Guest · May 11, 2020

   Has a lot of features and the ones that are locked can be all unlocked at once if you watch one add, really good alternative but sadly it's only for phone users

   3 of 11 comments

   

   

   • ibis Paint X is Freemium and ProprietaryPaintTool SAI is Paid and Proprietary
7. 

   

   MyPaint

    397 likes

   MyPaint is a fast, distraction-free, and easy painting tool for digital artists. It supports graphics tablets made by Wacom, and many similar devices.

   137 MyPaint alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Open Source (GPL-2.0)

   Application type

   • Digital Painting

   Origin

   • Switzerland

   Platforms

   • Mac
   • Windows
   • Linux
   • PortableApps.com

   • Switzerland

   

   

   

   +2

   

   More about MyPaint  

   

   Good alternative?Is MyPaint a good alternative to PaintTool SAI?

    

   |

   1comment

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   MyPaint vs PaintTool SAI Comments

   Negative comment by Guest · Jul 26, 2015

   There aren't as many functions as PaintTool SAI

   1 of 1 comments

   

   

   • MyPaint is Free and Open SourcePaintTool SAI is Paid and Proprietary
   • MyPaint is LightweightPaintTool SAI is not according to our users
9. 

   

   Affinity

    90 likes

   Unified design solution merging advanced photo, vector, and layout tools for seamless workflow, non-destructive editing, RAW support, batch processing, AI enhancements, GPU acceleration, file compatibility, cloud asset integration, and tailored workspace options.

   94 Affinity alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Freemium
   • Proprietary

   Application typeApplication types

   • Image Editor
   • Vector Graphic

   Origin

   • Australia

   Platforms

   • Mac
   • Windows

   • Australia

   

   

   

   +9

   

   More about Affinity  

   

   Good alternative?Is Affinity a good alternative to PaintTool SAI?

    
10. 

    

    Photopea

     357 likes

    Browser-based image editing supports PSD, XCF, Sketch formats, advanced layers, vector tools, RAW photo support, and exports in 40+ formats. Fully client-side with AI background removal, content-aware tools, and privacy as files never leave your device.

    126 Photopea alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application typeApplication types

    • Image Editor
    • Digital Painting

    Origin

    • Czechia
    • EU

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)

    • Czechia
    • EU

    

    

    

    +2

    

    More about Photopea  

    

    Good alternative?Is Photopea a good alternative to PaintTool SAI?

     
11. 

    

    AzPainter

     22 likes

    AzPainter is a full color painting program for Linux. It's a lightweight tool with tablet pressure support, and provides basic functions such as selection, layers, filters. you can use it for painting, image editing, or pixel art making.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (GPL-3.0)

    Application typeApplication types

    • Digital Painting
    • Image Editor

    Origin

    • Japan

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • AppImage

    • Japan

    

    

    More about AzPainter  

    

    Good alternative?Is AzPainter a good alternative to PaintTool SAI?

     

    |

    4comments

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    AzPainter vs PaintTool SAI Comments

    Positive comment by ADRIANO DUARTE · Mar 7, 2019

    Lightweight, very simple and powerful.

    Positive comment by Guest · Jun 3, 2017

    Smooth brushes, almost like PaintTool SAI. Includes "cell animation". ultra light, loads in 1 or 2 seconds in my computer.

    Positive comment by Guest · Aug 30, 2017

    Has almost funtions as Sai does

    3 of 4 comments

    

    

    • AzPainter is Free and Open SourcePaintTool SAI is Paid and Proprietary
    • AzPainter is LightweightPaintTool SAI is not according to our users
12. 

    

    ItsPaint

     9 likes

    MS Paint for the Mac. Native, free and open source: blank canvas at any size, drop one image onto another, crop, and mark up screenshots.

    54 ItsPaint alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    • Digital Painting

    Origin

    • United States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Homebrew

    • United States

    

    

    

    More about ItsPaint  

    

    Good alternative?Is ItsPaint a good alternative to PaintTool SAI?

     
13. 

    

    SketchPort

     21 likes

    SketchPort is an online drawing community with free software for PC, Mac, iOS, and Android. Draw, chat, vote, be inspired, be challenged and earn badges!

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    • Digital Painting

    Origin

    • United States

    Platforms

    • Online

    • United States

    

    

    

    +2

    

    More about SketchPort  

    

    Good alternative?Is SketchPort a good alternative to PaintTool SAI?

     
14. 

    

    Our Paint

     12 likes

    Our Paint is a featureless but programmable painting program.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (GPL-3.0)

    Application typeApplication types

    • Digital Painting
    • Color Picker

    Origin

    • China

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • itch.io

    • China

    

    

    

    +3

    

    More about Our Paint  

    

    Good alternative?Is Our Paint a good alternative to PaintTool SAI?

     
15. 

    

    Pixelitor

     29 likes

    Open source image editor with non-destructive editing, 110+ filters, adjustment and text layers, support for smart objects and adjustment layers, cross-platform compatibility, and layer-based editing for flexible image composition.

    117 Pixelitor alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (GPL-3.0)

    Application typeApplication types

    • Image Editor
    • Digital Painting

    Origin

    • Hungary
    • EU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    • Hungary
    • EU

    

    

    

    +4

    

    More about Pixelitor  

    

    Good alternative?Is Pixelitor a good alternative to PaintTool SAI?